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Saturday, July 31, 2010

Open letter to the Greek governmentOne of Them Has Stitched His Lips Together

A group of Iranian refugees have been on hunger strike since July 25 in front of the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Athens after a meeting with the Greek Deputy Minister for the Interior. They were told by the Deputy Minister that Greece cannot grant them refugee status due to the very close, friendly relations between Iran and his country. He also said that there were over 3 thousand Iranian asylum seekers in Greek prisons for having committed crimes.

The unbearable condition of asylum seekers in Greece is no secret to anyone in the least familiar with refugee questions around the world. They enjoy no benefits except for a red card, to be renewed every 6 months, as proof of their temporary residence in the country. The police treatment of them seems to be unspeakable. Dozens are said to be beaten and/or dishonored, and those in detention centers brutalized, by the police on a daily basis.

The IFIR is making every effort to bring the plight of the asylum seekers in Greece to the attention of the world, including millions of Iranian refugees and immigrants. The plights of individuals such as Reza Kamaali, Hosein Rostami, Sa’id Mahmoodi, Mohammad Azimi, Abdollah Bakhtiaari, Amir-Hosein Abdolmaleki, Faraj Gholaami, Saadegh Faraahaani are real and must be objected to by all conscious people across the world. The Greek government must be condemned for its treatment of refugees. The scenes of the Iranian refugees’ hunger strike, in general, and that of Saadegh Faraahaani’s sewed lips, in particular, are so distressing that make any human being’s hair stand on end.

The IFIR calls on all human rights organizations, the Greek people and all Iranians living abroad to show compassion for the striking refugees and support their demands. Iranian refugees around the world have fled the atrocious regime of Islamic Republic. They have fled a regime with pre-medieval laws and tribunals that sentence human beings to dismemberment, stoning, gouging of the eye, and a whole catalogue of other barbaric punishments unheard of in the modern world. They have fled a regime that executes children, homosexuals, ‘apostates’, ‘renegades’, ‘heretics’, ‘infidels’, believers in other faiths, dissenters, and so on, and so for forth. They have fled a regime that tolerates no degree of political dissent. They have fled a regime that shoots to kill peaceful demonstrators or runs them over and murder them with its police trucks in broad daylight and in front of thousands of cameras. They have fled a regime that atrociously tortures political prisoners for extraction of fake confessions. In short, they have fled a regime of murderers, indeed. That is why the striking asylum seekers in Athens are worthy of our most hear-felt support.

Nevertheless, the IFIR does not believe in hunger strike as an appropriate way out of the harsh refugee physical and emotional conditions. Those who choose hunger strike as a method of struggle have simply lost their hope and vision of a better life and opt for this method as a last resort, whereas, in any struggle, the goal must be clear from the beginning. It must be clear beforehand why we go on hunger strike, that is, it must be clear what we intend to achieve in terms of the change we want to bring about in our life. Again, in any struggle, the starting and the ending points must planned in advance. Refugees become refugees in order to save their life and guarantee their survival. Whereas a hunger strike for an unknown period of time can harm a refugee’s body and soul in ways that may never heal as long as s/he will live.

The IFIR, calls, therefore, on the striking asylum seekers in Athens to end their hunger strike in order to preserve their stamina to continue their struggles. We implore Saadegh Faraahaani, in particular, to get his stitches removed by a doctor, and to carry on his campaign employing less costly methods. At the same time we assure all asylum seekers in Greece that the IFIR will support your legitimate, humane demands with everything in its organizational and social power.

Friday, July 30, 2010

On Friday 30 July 2010, a press conference was held in London on the Iran stoning case of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. Mina Ahadi, Coordinator of the International Committee against Executions and International Committee against Stoning read out the latest message from Sakineh:

I’m Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani. From Tabriz Prison I thank all those who are thinking of me.

I went to school until the 5th grade. After I was married I had two children, and all my hopes are on them.

I am now quiet and sad because a part of my heart is frozen.

The day I was flogged in front of [my son] Sajjad, I was crushed and my dignity and heart were broken.

The day I was given the stoning sentence, it was as if I fell into a deep hole and I lost consciousness.

Many nights, before sleeping, I think to myself how can anybody be prepared to throw stones at me; to aim at my face and hands? Why?

I thank all of you from Tabriz Prison. Mrs Ahadi, tell everyone that I’m afraid of dying. Help me stay alive and hug my children.

Mina Ahadi also provided new evidence and information on Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s case as well as other cases sentenced to death by stoning in Iran. The new documentation refuted statements by the Islamic Republic of Iran that they did not intend to stone her to death. It also refuted a report shown at the press conference of a recent broadcast of the Islamic Republic of Iran's News agency on the 24 July International Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani Day protests and Sakineh's case. The report can be seen below in Persian:

Writer AC Grayling spoke of the contradiction between a medieval government and a progressive population wanting to be free whilst human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell stressed the importance of supporting Sakineh and all those languishing on death row. Iran Solidarity Spokesperson Maryam Namazie refuted claims made by the embassy of the Islamic regime of Iran in London and the former French ambassador to Iran that stonings in Iran were rare; she referred to a new report published by the International Committee against Executions which has found that over 100 people have been stoned with 25 known cases currently awaiting death by stoning in Iran.

The speakers ended their statements by calling for Sakineh’s stoning and execution orders to be rescinded and for her release and for an end to stoning and executions. The press conference, which was chaired by Iran Secular Society Director Fariborz Pooya finished at 12pm after which the panellists were interviewed by major media outlets present.

The Islamic Republic of Iran's News agency criticised the 24 July International Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani Day protests. You can see a clip of the report below. It doesn't even mention Sakineh's name other than to call her S.M. and blurs her photo. It also says she brutally killed her husband which is why they say she is being sentenced to death.

Their misinformation about the campaign and Sakine's case was refuted at the 30 July press conference. First off, stoning is a sentence for adultery not murder; secondly we presented the judgement on her case there. It clearly states death by stoning for adultery!

Here is the translation of the court document showing she has been sentenced to death by stoning for adultery:

Case reference number: 94 - 84/6 Province Criminal [Court]Reference number of the Head Penal Office: 237 - 84/11/18Authority dealing with the case: Branch 6 of the Penal Court of East Azarbaijan ProvincePlaintiff: Honourable Prosecutor of the General and Revolutionary Court of Tabriz

Due to disagreement among the members of the court, the verdict of the majority is given as follows; that of the minority, following consultation, is given in a separate sheet:

(The verdict of the majority)

In this case, Mrs Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, born 1968, resident of Oskoo, daughter of Asqar, is accused of committing adultery with stranger men. Given the contents of the case and the form of the complaint of the children of the accused and of her murdered husband Mr Ebrahim Ghaderzadeh, the form of the report by the security forces, and the clear confessions of the above-named … such that it seems that the main motive of the above-named in murdering her husband with the help of one of the stranger men … has been to have illicit relations with [such] men and her severely corrupt mind, as well as other indications and evidences all of which indicate the committing of the crime of adultery, have led the majority of the court to arrive at knowledge [tahsil e elm], and [thus] with reference to Clauses 63, 83 and 105 of the Islamic Penal Law, the majority of the court sentences Mrs Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, daughter of Asqar, to stoning [rajm] on the charge of adultery (with stranger men repeatedly). This verdict can be appealed to the Supreme Court within 20 days from the date of this verdict.

Judge and Advisers Eemani, Seyf Ahmadi, Musavi

(The verdict of the minority)

Apart from the fact that Mrs Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani ... who per judgment no. 114 of 17 May 2006 has been sentenced to 99 lashes on the charge of having an illicit relationship with [names of men] ... which according to her has been administered and this case has been heard in the Court of the Province for the charge of adultery … with [names of men] ... as long as that sentence is not revoked, the accused cannot be prosecuted, since a person is prosecuted only once for the same offence. Thus prosecution in this case has no legal justification as no positive religious or legal evidence can be found … (confession or witness testimony) and the indications in the case are not customary ways of [the judge] arriving at knowledge [tahsil e elm]. So the above-named is believed to be innocent of the charge.

Minority members of Branch 6 of the Penal Court of the ProvinceKazemi and Hamdollahi

Translated by International Committee Against Stoning and International Committee Against Execution: http://notonemoreexecution.org/, http://stopstonningnow.com.

With regard to the charge of Mrs Maryam Ghorbanzadeh, daughter of Golmohammad, that she committed adultery, the majority of the court, having considered all the papers of the case including investigations by court officers into the murder of the partner of the accused and the words of the accused regarding planning for murder and having sexual relations with the murderer and adulterer Mr Behzad Rasoolzadegh, and having watched the film of the sex scene between the accused [female] and the accused [male] and the fact that the defence of the accused [female] claiming that her partner had not slept with her for two years and had no sexual desires for her and would only say that he did not feel like it, and since until that date the accused [female] had not said anything about this and the words of the adulterer [male] in a recent session of this court contradict the words of the accused [female], thus the majority of the members of the court, given what has been stated, arrive at knowledge and certainty that the accused [female] despite the fact that her partner was available to her [had ehsan] nevertheless chose to commit adultery, and invoking Sections 83 (Clause B) and 105 of the Islamic Penal Law, sentences the accused [female] to stoning [rajm], and finally declares that given the general policy of the Judiciary and the guidelines issued regarding consideration of whether it is expedient in such cases to change the sentence to execution by other means, the sentence of stoning is changed to execution by hanging in the prison yard. The sentence can be appealed to the Supreme Court in person within 20 days from the date on which it was passed.

Head [of the Court] Ali Amini and Advisers of Branch 12 of the Penal Court of East Azarbaijan Province

Translated by International Committee Against Stoning and International Committee Against Execution: http://notonemoreexecution.org/, http://stopstonningnow.com.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

We, the undersigned, are extremely concerned to learn that the whereabouts of leading human rights lawyer Mohammad Mostafaei is unknown and that his wife, Fereshteh Halimi, and brother-in-law, Farhad Halimi, have been arrested on 24 July by the Iranian authorities. Mostafaei is the lawyer of Sakine Mohammadi Ashtiani who has been sentenced to death by stoning for ‘adultery.’

Last week Mostafaei was issued a summons requiring him to present himself to Evin prison; he did so on 24 July. He was interrogated and released but received a further summons by telephone. Later that day, his wife and brother-in-law were arrested and remain in prison in order to exert pressure on Mostafaei to turn himself in. Scores of human rights defenders have been harassed or arrested in Iran with some being sentenced to death. Sakine Mohammadi Ashtiani’s son, Sajjad, who has appealed on her behalf has also faced interrogation and harassment.

We call on the Islamic regime of Iran to immediately release Mostafaei’s family and end its harassment of Mostafaei and Sakine Mohammadi Ashtiani’s son Sajjad. We also demand that Sakine Mohammadi Ashtiani’s stoning and execution orders be rescinded and that she be released.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

I received an email from Sophie in Canada about Bud who has been fiercely defending the Islamic regime of Iran on a forum.

Bud writes: "We have this historical record of them removing stoning from their laws, years ago."

I wrote to Sophie:

"Iran hasn't scrapped it - there was a moratorium on stoning in 2002 but it was never scrapped. The officials of the regime have said it was because of the bad publicity it was giving the regime. But people have still been stoned to death since then and there are 25 people awaiting death by stoning sentences in Iran that we know of.

Bud though won't care about these things. He would prefer to defend the regime than those it oppresses.

The former French Ambassador to Iran says that he believes Iranian officials are angry about the international campaign to reverse the stoning sentence against Sakineh Ashtiani and that they are lashing out at those whom they believe were behind it. "The regime is furious about the international campaign around the case, and the success it had all around the world. And they are trying to punish all the people who have been active in this campaign abroad," he said. Nicoullaud argues the Iranian judiciary may have been annoyed by the international campaign because they did not intend to stone Sakineh Ashtiani.

It seems - like the regime - he wants to blame campaigners and possibly her children for her fate; after all they wrote an open lettter bringing attention on her case.

As I have said before you need to choose - you either defend Sakine and real live human beings or you defend stoning and the regime. They have made their choice; and so have we.

The difference between our choice and theirs is that we represent a majority and they ally themselves with a murderous regime.

On Friday 30 July 2010, Mina Ahadi, Coordinator of the International Committee against Executions and International Committee against Stoning, is to provide new evidence and information on Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s case as well as other cases sentenced to death by stoning in Iran. Other speakers include writer AC Grayling, Iran Solidarity Spokesperson Maryam Namazie and human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.

The press conference and emergency meeting is to take place at the Brockway Room, Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, Holborn, London WC1R 4RL at 11.00am-12.00pm.

The Wife and brother-in-law of Mohamad Mostafaei, Sakine’s lawyer, arrested

No word about Mostafaei himself

As we reported earlier, Mr. Mostafaei, Sakine’s lawyer, was summoned to the Mininstry of Intelligence at Evin Prison. He presented himself there yesterday. A post on his weblog later informed the public that the authorities at Evin prison had questioned him about some financial issues. Some time after he left the prison the authorities called him and asked him to present himself once again. However, a short while after they went to his office to arrest him. Mr. Mostafaai was not there but his wife and his brother-in-law were arrested, instead, somewhere near the office.

The whereabouts of Mr. Mostafaie is currently unknown. According to our sources, his office has been sealed off by the authorities.

We have not yet been able to identify the prison where Mr. Mostafaei’s wife and brother-in-law are currently held.

The Islamic Republic, under the intense pressure of the world public opinion against the stoning sentence of Sakine, has now targeted her lawyer and put him under pressure. The interrogation over financial issues, specifically, is one of the regime’s customary ways to begin a charge-fabricating process. The Islamic Republic is trying, with everything in its power, to cut off the relations between Sakine and her family, on the one side, and her lawyer and the public opinion, on the other.

The International Committee Against Execution strongly condemns such persecutions as those executed by the Islamic Republic against Sakine Mohammadi Ashtiani's lawyer, Mr. Mostafaei, and his family. We urge all human rights organisations to take action as soon as possible and demand the immediate release of Mr. Mostafaei's wife and brother-in-law. The Islamic Republic must be forced to stop harassing and intimidating Mr. Mostafaei and others like him in their legal efforts to pursue justice.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

International Sakine Mohammadi Ashtiani Day: World Citizens against Stoning was a huge success. On the day, thousands of people took part in actions in over 30 cities worldwide, including in Australia, Brazil, North America, Europe, Georgia and the Phillipines.

In Tolouse, France, on 23 July afternoon at the PLACE DU CAPITOLE activists distibuted 400 tracts against stoning.

In Sussex, UK, human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell dedicated the Honorary Doctorate he received from Sussex University for 43 years of human rights activism to in the following manner: "I dedicate my acceptance of this honorary doctorate to the people of Iran who are struggling against clerical dictatorship, for democracy and freedom. In particular, Mansour Osanloo, the jailed Iranian trade union leader, and Sakineh Ashtiani, who has been sentenced to be stoned to death, along with more than 20 other Iranians."

Others mentioned Sakine's Day at their events. The Central London Humanists met at 2pm and read out our message about Sakine's Day in Kensington Gardens at their annual summer picnic. All voiced solidarity with her and all the others who are suffering under the despotic cruelty of the current regime in Iran.

We will continue posting any reports we receive so do send them in to us.

Media coverage will be posted separately.

A huge thanks to all those who participated on this day in order to save Sakine and to condemn the barbaric acts of stoning and execution.

International Committee against ExecutionInternational Committee against StoningIran SolidarityMission Free Iran

Below are rallies and events organised for International Sakine Mohammadi Ashtiani Day: World Citizens against Stoning. If you are organising something in your area, please email us at iransolidaritynow@gmail.com.Updated: 24 July

To all those working to save the life of Sakine Mohammadi-Ashtiaani life worldwide:Not just Sakine but the whole humanity needs your endeavors!

How magnificent it is to see hundreds of thousands of people across the world have their heart set on the fate of a woman languishing in a prison in Iran. How delightful it is to see that within the short span of only three weeks Sakine Mohammadi-Ashtiaani, an unknown woman, has become one the most famous women in the world with a renewed glimmer hope in her heart - all thanks to the endeavors of the innumerable people who represented humanity in this matter.

Dear friends,

Here I would like to, firstly, thank each and every one of you on behalf of the International Committee against Stoning and the International Committee against Execution for your invaluable efforts and, secondly, touch upon a few points regarding the significance of your magnificent work and its achievements.

1- Sakine was saved from being stoned to death thanks to a global effort triggered off by her children. I hope it will continue until Sakine is released from prison.

2- International pressure on the Islamic Republic has already forced it into caution as far as the execution of stoning and hanging sentences is concerned. Although it needs murder, in general, and the death penalty, in particular, as essential prerequisites for its survival, efforts such as yours do limit the quantity of its crimes.

3- The regime has been considerably more disgraced and despised. We have been trying our utmost for the past three decades to relate to the people of the world what it is doing to the people in Iran, and today, more than ever, the world sympathize with them and their struggles to get rid of it. This is extremely valuable and helpful as far as the Iranian people are concerned.

4- Thanks to your efforts the regime has been extensively exposed. That parameter has made it harder for the governments that had been on its side all along, actively as well as passively with their silence about its crimes, to carry out their wheeling and dealing. The latter has a direct, positive bearing on the struggles of the Iranian people.

5- The total abolition of capital punishment is one of the most vital demands of the people in Iran. Since its inception in February 1979, the Islamist regime has summarily tried about one hundred thousand loved ones of ours in a fashion that no honorable person can possibly call “trial” and then executed them - by firing squad, hanging and stoning - for political opposition, for being free thinkers, for believing in other faiths, for atheism, apostasy, heresy, adultery, and so on, and so forth. Execution is a central pillar of this regime, and fighting execution is therefore a central pillar of the people’s struggle against it. By raising the banner of the abolition of stoning and execution in the past few weeks you rose up, indeed, in defense of this humanist demand of the people of Iran.

6- Most importantly, vast networks of activists were formed as a result of your work. One can hope that in future they will stand up to each case of stoning or execution more strongly and proficiently and that by doing so they will help the Iranian people more effectively in their on-going humane struggle to rid themselves of this regime of religious savagery. I assure you that you have strengthened the hope and the possibility of this tremendous task for the people in Iran as well as around the world. You took this totally humane struggle aimed at the overthrowing this regime and building a free, equal and humane society in its place a great step forward. So treasure the networks you created and strengthen them ever more!

I shake the hand of each and every one you and hope that your struggles increasingly grow in strength and organization so that they can play an ever more effective role alongside those of the oppressed people of Iran.

Mina AhadiSpokespersonInternational Committee against Stoning and International Committee against ExecutionJuly 19, 2010

Protesters will take to the streets of dozens of cities tomorrow calling for a woman sentenced to die by stoning in Iran to be saved.

The International Committee against Stoning and Execution (ICAS) has designated tmorrow “International Sakineh Mohamadi Ashtiani Day”, and is planning worldwide protests against her sentence.

Ms Ashtiani, a mother of two, was sentenced to death by stoning after she was accused of adultery. After her children raised the alarm of her imminent stoning, a huge international campaign emerged calling for her to be saved. An open letter of protest to the Iranian Government, published in The Times, was signed by the former US secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, the Nobel Peace laureate José Ramos-Horta, and the former foreign secretary David Miliband.

ICAS said that it was vital to keep up the pressure on the Iranian authorities. Although the Iranian Embassy in London said that Ms Ashtiani would not be executed by stoning, there are still fears that she could be be executed by another method. “We believe she is still in danger and is not in the clear until we hear she is out of prison,” Ahmad Fatemi begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting, from ICAS, said.

Protests are planned in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Georgia, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway and the US. Five protests wil take place in Britain: in Birmingham, Chichester, London, Egham, Surrey, and Richmond. Mock stonings will take place at some of the events to highlight the cause.

Mohammed Mostafaei, Ms Ashtiani’s lawyer, was this week summoned to talk to prosecutors at Evin prison in Tehran. He told The Times this week that it was “very unusual” to be summoned there, and that he feared he could be arrested. He was intending to meet them tomorrow morning.

24 July 2010 is to be designated International Sakine Mohamadi Ashtiani Day according to an open letter signed by Mina Ahadi, International Committee against Stoning and Execution (Germany), Pierre Cassen, Riposte Laïque (France), Richard Dawkins, Scientist (UK), Anne-marie Lizin, Belgian Senate Honorary Speaker (Belgium), and Irshad Manji, European Foundation for Democracy and New York University (USA), Maryam Namazie (Iran Solidarity and One Law for All) amongst others.

The 58 signatories raise concern for 43 year old Sakine Mohamadi Ashtiani who may be executed in Iran at any time for ‘having an illicit relationship.’ The mother of two has already received 99 lashes and been sentenced to death by stoning in Iran. Her children, Faride and Sajjad, raised the alarm of her imminent stoning when there was no further legal recourse via an open letter to the people of the world.

In response to the call, rallies and events will be taking place on this day in a number of countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Georgia, France, Netherlands, Germany, Norway, UK and USA. Mock stonings will take place at some of the events.

Notes:

1. The open letter calling for 24 July 2010 to be International Sakine Mohamadi Ashtiani Day can be found here: http://iransolidarity.blogspot.com/2010/07/24-july-2010-international-sakine.html.

2. To find an event in your area or to report one taking place on 24 July, visit: http://iransolidarity.blogspot.com/2010/07/rallies-for-international-sakine.html.

3. The new and comprehensive list of persons stoned to death or awaiting death by stoning in Iran compiled by Farshad Hosseini of the ICAE is available in Persian: http://countmein-iran.com/Sangsarha%20lst-farshad-july2010.pdf. It is being translated into English.

Sakine and her family await the ‘International Sakine Day’ tomorrow 24 July. They hope that protests will help to free Sakine. Her children, Sajad and Faride, are following the efforts of millions of people across the world in their defence and are anxiously awaiting their mother's release.

Sajad visited Sakine in prison on Thursday 22 July. Ms Ashtiani is worried because the authorities in Tabriz are trying to get an expedited execution order and she is also worried that her lawyer and family might not be informed of any impending execution as is often the case in Iran. The Islamic regime of Iran is trying to prevent communication between Sakine’s family and lawyers and the Save Sakine campaign and international media. However, Sakine’s family know that more than half a million signatures have been collected on her behalf and they know that millions of people are supporting her.

Sakine’s lawyer in Tehran, Mr Mostafaei, has been ordered to present himself in Evin prison. However he has not yet done so; he intends to present himself there tomorrow, Saturday. We will closely monitor whether Mr Mostafaei and Sakine’s family will be put under even more pressure.

The ICAE and ICAS calls on people worldwide to continue their efforts to save Sakine as only international pressure from the world community will be able to save her. We are calling on everyone to take part in the ‘International Day for Sakine’ tomorrow Saturday 24 July as it is not only a day to protest in support of Sakine but also a day to protest against stoning and execution.

At the same time that the international protests to free Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani are on the rise, Mohammad Mostafaei, the well-known lawyer in Tehran, has been summoned to the 2nd Branch of Shahid Moghaddas Court’s Interrogation Office in Evin Prison. Mostafaei has written in his personal website that he has been asked to present himself to that office within three days to give “some explanations.” “Some explanation” is nothing but threats and efforts by the regime to intimidate and silence the lawyers of those prisoners condemned to execution and stoning.

The International Committee against Execution strongly condemns this harassment and summons, and asks all Iranian people and people all around the world to protest against these acts of the Islamic Republic.

International Committee against Execution (ICAE)Mina Ahadi22 July 2010

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Sakine Mohammadi Ashtiani’s case review postponedFinal judgment will be made in 20 days

In our last press release we reported that the Supreme Court in Iran would issue a statement on Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s case on July 21st, 2010. Today we have been informed by our sources in Iran that the Islamic regime has postponed a decision in Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani’s case for another 20 days. According to the sources, all documents of Sakineh’s case have been sent to the 9th division of the Supreme Court.

We believe that Sakineh is still at risk of being executed or even stoned to death. The aim of the Islamic regime of Iran is clear: by pushing back the date of the final verdict they hope to buy time to escape the pressure of the international community. The Islamic regime is waiting for the international news coverage and the pressure to abate to then continue with their criminal activities.

We hope that people worldwide will continue their efforts to save Sakineh from execution, stoning and prison, and we hope that the international media will continue to report on her case. Only with international pressure and news coverage can we save all ‘Sakinehs’ in Iran. The execution and stoning sentences of Sakineh and anyone else in Iranian prisons must be revoked immediately. We demand the abolishment of the death penalty, stoning and qesas (Islamic punishments).

July 21, 2010International Committee against ExecutionInternational Committee against Stoning

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

In January this year, Mr. Babak Shadidi, an Iranian-born Swedish citizen and a former member of the Worker-communist Party of Iran, revealed a plot to assassinate a number of the leaders of that party. The plot was planned in Sweden and was intended to be carried out in Germany. Babak Shadidi, who had planned to play a role in this plot, had a change of heart: he informed the party and the Swedish police, and disclosed the conspiracy. He has subsequently received numerous death threats.

Although a considerable amount of information and leads were provided to the police regarding this case, no serious attempt was made to apprehend the conspirators. It must be emphasized that one of the two agents of the Islamic Republic, who took Babak Shadidi blindfolded to a house on the outskirts of Stockholm to explain the details of the plot, has been identified.

While the Swedish police have passively neglected this case, on June 20th, Babak Shadidi was attacked by agents of the Islamic Republic while entering his home and was severely injured inside the house. He was then immediately flown by helicopter to a hospital for treatment.

Mr. Prime Minister!

You are certainly aware of the Islamic Republic's terrorism. This regime’s existence has its foundations in terror and thuggery. The terrorists reigning in Tehran have organized hundreds of assassinations of their opponents outside Iran. There are a number of leading figures in the regime who are sought by Interpol for direct involvement in organizing terrorist activities abroad. The plot to assassinate the leaders of the Worker-communist Party of Iran, which was conducted from Sweden, as well as the Köln kidnapping for 12 days of Dariush Shokouf, the director of “Iran, Prison” (a film about the rapes and torture of the political prisoners), are two links in this chain of assassinations and terror.

The people of Iran have shaken the foundations of the Islamic Republic regime, and the world is now aware of its criminal and dangerous nature. Today, even United Nations judges* are talking about the necessity of indicting the top figures of this regime on charges of genocide. The time of governments remaining silent and appeasing this murderous, terrorist regime has long passed.

Yet, the Islamic regime, out of desperation, continues its efforts in various ways to spread fear and silence the opposition outside of Iran.

Hence, we would like to draw your attention to this issue. We expect that you not allow Swedish soil become a safe haven for Islamic Republic’s terrorism against its opposition. So far, different interests have led to silence in the face of the Islamic Republic's terrorist actions. We will continue to spread public awareness against this policy of silence and condemn it. We demand first of all that you not ignore these terrorist acts by the Islamic Republic with the excuse of “national interest” and “diplomacy.” Secondly, we demand that this particular case be thoroughly investigated and the public informed of the findings.

Neither the Iranian people nor Swedish public opinion will accept that you allow Islamic terrorism do it pleases in Sweden. It is your obligation to protect the lives and safety of the Islamic Republic's opposition in Sweden. In closing, we would like to emphasize that Babak Shadidi continues to be victimized by the Islamic Republic of Iran and must be protected.

With regards,Abdollah Asadi, Secretary General, Solidarity-Confederation of Iranian refugeesKima Pazuki, Human rights activistMahin Alipur, Head of the Campaign to Defend Women's Rights in IranKarim Shah-Mohammadi, Head of the Children First Foundation, SwedenAsad Nodinian, Responssible for Cmmunist combatant siteAfsane Wahdat, head of Ex-Muslim organization SwedenKhalil Keyvan, secretary the Worker-communist Party of Iran, Abroad Organization

According to one of our sources in Tehran today, the Islamic Republic’s judiciary authorities have announced that a decision will be made on the case of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani on Wednesday the 21st of July.

The Tabriz deputy prosecutor has called for Sakineh’s execution by hanging; thus, the danger of Sakineh’s execution is still very high, and we therefore need to intensify the pressure against the Islamic Republic to save Sakineh from state-sponsored murder.

Sakineh has been charged with having extramarital sexual relations; she has been lashed for this 99 times in front of her son and imprisoned for over 4 years under the nightmare of stoning.

Sakineh must be freed. To free Sakineh from execution and prison, we must intensify international pressure. This is the only way to force the regime of murderers to retreat. The widespread international efforts in the past few weeks have proven that it is possible to force back the hand of the Islamic regime and rescue Sakineh and others sentenced to execution and stoning.

The International Committee against ExecutionJuly 19th 2010Tir 28 1389

Caroline Spelman, the Environment Secretary, claims the burka empowers women. I suppose it could do in the same way FGM, foot binding, Suttee, a chastity belt, empower women - which is err, not at all.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

We, the undersigned, are extremely concerned about the fate of 43 year old Sakine Mohamadi Ashtiani and fear she may be executed in Iran at any time for ‘having an illicit relationship.’

We call on people everywhere to intensify their protests by marking Saturday 24 July as the International Sakine Mohamadi Ashtiani Day. On the Saturday, we ask you to come out on to the streets and in city centres across the globe at 2pm local time bringing photos of Sakine and messages in her defence and against stoning and execution. Other measures that can be taken include highlighting her case wherever possible, signing petitions here, here and here, joining rallies, and keeping pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran.

On 24 July 2010 at 2pm join us and make the world stand still in its rage against medievalism and barbarity and in its support of humanity. Sakine, her children and the many others awaiting death by stoning and execution deserve nothing less.

4. To donate to the important work of the International Committee Against Stoning and International Committee Against Executions, please make your cheque payable to ‘Count Me In – Iran’ and send to BM Box 6754, London WC1N 3XX, UK. You can also pay via Paypal. Please earmark your donation.

Exiles urge that Iran be ejected from UN women’s groupMartin Fletcher, The Times, 16 July 2010

Pressure groups led by Iranian exiles are demanding that the country be thrown out of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

They have seized on the case of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, the mother given 99 lashes and sentenced to death by stoning for alleged adultery.

“Such a regime has no place at the table when it comes to setting global gender policy in the 21st century,” said Maria Rohaly, co-ordinator of Mission Free Iran. “By defending the practice of stoning, the Islamic Republic has itself publicly and on the global stage provided the basis upon which the world must insist that it be immediately removed from the commission.”

Maryam Namazie, spokeswoman for Iran Solidarity, said: “For Iran to be sitting on such a committee is tragic and outrageous. It’s like having a South African apartheid government sitting on the Commission for Racial Equality. How is it possible?”

Ahmad Fatemi, of the International Committee Against Executions, said it was “obscene and unacceptable that a country like Iran gets a seat on this committee. It is rewarding the Islamic Republic for its atrocities.”

Fifteen Iranians are thought to be awaiting execution by stoning, all but three of them women. In Tabriz prison, where Ms Ashtiani has been incarcerated for five years, they include Azar Bagheri, 19, who was forced into marriage at 14, convicted of adultery on her husband’s say-so and has twice been subjected to mock stonings as she is not yet old enough to be executed.

Stoning is simply the most egregious form of discrimination suffered by Iranian women. Their evidence in court is worth half that of a man; they have severely curtailed rights of inheritance, divorce and child custody; they are forbidden to travel without their husband’s permission; and must cover their heads and bodies whenever they go out. Women’s right activists are routinely harrassed, arrested and imprisoned.

In April Iran gained a four-year seat on the commission, a move trumpeted by state media because only one other country, Thailand, applied for the two vacant slots allocated to Asia. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, one of several outraged members of the US Congress, said: “That an Iranian regime that shoots and stones women would be ‘elected’ to a UN body supposedly dedicated to women’s rights adds a whole new disgusting twist to the ongoing saga of Iran exploiting the UN.”

Friday, July 16, 2010

This pathetic article is an attempt by the regime and its supporters to discredit human rights activists abroad. Irrespective of Mina Ahadi’s beliefs and political affiliations with opposition organisations rightly opposed to the Islamic Republic of Iran, the only misinformation on Sakine Mohammadi Ashtiani’s case and that of others comes from the Islamic Republic of Iran in an effort to conceal its many crimes. Clearly, the regime’s officials have continued to sanction stoning and defend their [in]justice system of Sharia law. Sakine’s stoning sentence was for having an ‘illicit relationship’ for which she has already been flogged 99 times.

A new and comprehensive report shows that in fact over 100 people have been stoned to death by the regime and that 25 await death by stoning including a pregnant woman and a girl arrested when she was 15. The document using official sources can be found here in Persian: http://countmein-iran.com/Sangsarha%20lst-farshad-july2010.pdf and is currently being translated.

Stoning is sanctioned by many religions, including Islam. Under Sharia law (which comprises of the Koran, Hadith and Islamic jurisprudence) stoning is the punishment of sex outside of marriage. Whilst though it is a sentence in other religions, it is Islamism today that has political power in many places including Iran, hence the barbarity and medievalism of countries under Islamic laws.

When the regime is overthrown by the unfolding people’s revolution in Iran, the world will be horrified at the extent of its crimes.

Two suicide bombings outside a mosque in Zahedan yesterday have left scores dead and hundreds wounded. As well as the two suicide bombers and members of the Pasdaran Army, casualties included many ordinary people. The bombings have led to fears among the people and have allowed the Islamic regime to step up its militarisation of the city and of the whole region. The group Jundullah has claimed responsibility, publishing photos of two young people said to be the bombers. The group said the bombings were in retaliation for the recent execution of the group’s leader Abdolmalek Rigi, as well as in support of the “Sunni people”.

This is, however, yet another instance of the war of Islamic terrorists: between, on the one hand, Iran’s Islamic regime, which cannot last even a single day without execution and terrorisation of the people, and, on the other, the Alqaeda-like Jundullah. People, whether stamped as “Shia” or “Sunni”, are the victim of these crimes. They have no interest in this brutal conflict between the Islamic regime and the vile political Islamic forces.

The Worker-communist Party of Iran strongly condemns these crimes, Islamic terrorism as a whole and the massacre of innocent people. WPI calls on the people, regardless of the fake identities that have been manufactured for them, to step up their efforts, hand in hand, for the ousting of the regime, which is itself the source of Islamic terrorism and the system of murder, repression and impoverishment of the people, for a secular, non-ethnic and humanist political system.

Down with the Islamic Republic of IranNeither ethnic, nor religious, but a humanist stateFor a socialist republic

In Iran workers are routinely arrested for going on strike, for building a union or for celebrating May Day. That is what happened to bus workers in Tehran: Over 700 of them were arrested when they went on strike in 2006. Some of their leaders, such as Mansoor Ossanlou, are still in jail, and some have been fired from their jobs. It happened to sugar cane workers when they organised protests over unpaid wages and built a union. Their leaders have spent months in prison and are daily harassed with court summons and heavy bails. Some have also lost their jobs. Teachers who took strike action and held rallies over their pay and conditions have also been put in prison. Over the years, hundreds of workers have met a similar end for exercising their fundamental right to freely organise, strike and assemble.

Arbitrary arrests and detentions, long prison terms, violent interrogations, beatings, even use of lashing to degrade and break down, denial of medical care to sick detainees, constant harassment in the form of court summons, heavy bails and daily threats issued against the workers and their families, and the ultimate weapon of cutting workers off their livelihood by firing them, make up a brutal regime of systematic persecution of labour activists in Iran.

In May this year the regime added to its 31-year record of horrific human rights abuse by executing well-known teacher and labour activist Farzad Kamangar, along with four other political prisoners. The world’s trade unions and human rights organisations had been campaigning for Farzad’s release for years, and vehemently condemned the callous killings.

We, a group of labour activists and campaigners from Iran and around the world, have set up this campaign to highlight the plight of the workers currently in jail in Iran or under the threat of arrest and detention. The aim of the campaign is the immediate and unconditional release of all labour activists who are currently in jail. Some of us are former members of the very unions suppressed by the regime in Iran, who are continuing the fight in exile through this and other campaigns.

Our demand is clear: the terror and violence against workers in Iran must stop! Workers in Iran should be able to freely exercise their fundamental right to set up their own organisations, meet, assemble and protest as they wish, take strike action, organise and take part in rallies, etc., without fear of being arrested and thrown in jail. All jailed workers must be immediately and unconditionally freed!

The following workers are currently known to be held in various prisons and detention centres in Iran. The actual list is much longer. The whereabouts of some remain unknown (The list is regularly updated on our blogs):

From the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs United (Vahed) Bus Company:

* Another teacher, Abdolreza Ghanbari, was arrested during the mass anti-government demonstration on 27 December 2009. He has been sentenced to death.

Other detained labour activists:

Behnam Ebrahim-zadehMehdi Farrahi Shandiz

We call on all trade unions and human rights organisations around the world and all individuals and organisations appalled by the horrific human rights abuse in Iran to support and sign up to this campaign.

Sajjad, the son of Sakine Mohammadi-Ashtiaani, summond by the Ministry of Intelligence in Tabriz

An information source of the International Committee Against Execution in Tabriz reports that Sajjad, the 22-year-old son of Sakine Mohammadi-Ashtiaani, has been summond to office 37 of the Tabriz branch of the Ministry of Intelligence today. The summon has been issued by Hoseyn Nobakht, Tabriz assistant public prosecutor. According to the source, it is not yet clear if Sajjad has actually presented himself to the said office. It is obvious to all those familiar with the Islamic Republic that such summons are aimed at pressurring the victims physically and emotionally.

The International Committee Against Executions vehemently condemns any threat, summon and persecution by the forces of oppression of the Islamic regime directed against the children of Sakine Mohammadi-Ashtiaani. The Committee also calls on all people across the world to strongly condemn the Islamic Republic’s conduct.

After the campaign against the stoning sentence of Sakine Mohammadi-Ashtiaani had become internationalized, the families of those held in a prison in Tabriz, Azarbayjan, Iran, contacted and informed us about the shocking situation of their loved ones in jail. We disclose those cases too so that people of the world will become further aware of the vile character of this government, the government of murderers, and join the Iranian people in their struggle to overthrow it. As reports received by the International Committee against Execution, there are 170 people sentenced to death in Tabriz prison. Among them there are a group of children under 18 and a pregnant woman.

Two other women sentenced to death by stoning

Azar Bagheri is nineteen years old. She was arrested, convicted of having had sex out of the wedlock, and sentenced to death by stoning when she was only fifteen. She has spent the past four years of her life in the company of the ultimate nightmare: be stoned to death. During this time Azar has been subjected to mock stoning twice, that is, she has been buried up to her chest, ready for the stones to be thrown at her, and then told that she must either cooperate or face this! Azar was 14 when she was forced into an unwanted marriage. Later her husband pressed charges against her, claiming she did not love him and had a relationship with another man.

Maryam Baagherzaade, 25 years of age, also sentenced to death by stoning. Maryam has been in jail for 4 years now. She got pregnant following a short leave from prison. The Islamic regime intends to hang or stone this woman to death. Usually the pregnant women have their babies before being killed.

18 homosexuals waiting to be hanged

We are in receipt of news about 8 women and 10 men in Tabriz prison sentenced to death by hanging for being homosexuals.

Young girl on death row takes her own life

Friday, July 9, 2010, Tabriz prison was shrouded in a deep sorrow. Soodaabe Ahmadi, 16 years of age, sentenced to death for murder, had killed herself in her cell. This young person took her own life because she was too young to bear to count the seconds to the first touch of the rope on her neck.

Young girl on death row

Fariba Shafaa’at, 20 years of age, was 14 when she was arrested and charged with the murder of her father. We were contacted from Tabriz on July 12, 2010, and told that the judiciary authorities in Tehran have already given the go-ahead for her execution. They are murdering this young woman who was only 14 when she was convicted of murder. She could be murdered at any moment.

***

This is only one prison and just one example of the indescribable brutality the Islamic regime has subjected the Iranian people to. The Islamic Republic is not the government of the Iranian people, it is their murderer. It must be banned from all international bodies, and all its embassies as well as various centers must be closed everywhere.

We call on the people of the world to intensify their pressure on the Islamic Republic. Organize rallies where you live and/or in front of the regime’s embassies! Demand the quashing of all standing execution sentences as well as the abolition of stoning, and execution in general, in Iran!

We call on all relevant international organizations to dispatch commissions of inquiry to Iran in order to inspect the Tabriz prison and other murder houses of the Islamic Republic. Needless to say, this will have to be imposed on the regime.

Sean sent this message:In light of the current situation in Iran, in which the government nearly stoned to death Mrs Ashtiani, I want to fully pledge my support to the work of your organisation. I feel deep sympathy for the people of Iran and I want nothing more for them than freedom, equality, democracy and secularism. I am eighteen years old, from the UK and don’t really know how I can be of use but I would be willing to do anything in my power to help. I want the next generation of Iranian youths to grow up in a country in which they are not discriminated against based on their sex, religion, ethnicity or political views but on the content of their character. God bless your efforts. With love.

Lorraine Burnett from Portugal sent this photo:

Maria Jedla from Egham, Surrey sent these photos:

James Nichols sent the following message: To stone anyone to death is a BARBARIC act.Those who would perpetrate this are BARBARIANS.Allah is indeed Akhbar, but in His wisdom will make us stand before Him to decided our actions. HE will assuredly send BARBARIANS to Jehanum.Jesus also asked, "Who among you will throw the first stone?" He also knew Allah would decided the stone throwers actions and send them to HELL.I PLEAD to you in authority to have mercy on this woman, Sakine Mohammadi Ashtiani.